Focus on Pharmacy

London Drugs pharmacists know that, when it comes to your health, you simply can’t know too much. Whether it be the prevention of a health condition, or the management of it, knowledge is power. This is why we strive to provide you with the most up-to-date information, as quickly as possible.

London Drugs has recently developed two newsletters to help customers with diabetes or heart conditions.

Living with Diabetes provides details of the latest research findings and presents tips to help people with diabetes manage their condition and lead healthier lives.

Heart-Healthy Living helps people with heart conditions control their cholesterol and blood pressure by providing the information needed to follow a “heart-healthy” lifestyle.

Subscribing to these newsletters is easy. Simply stop by the pharmacy department and request a sample copy. Inside each newsletter is a form you can use to sign up for a free subscription.

Here’s a breakdown of the helpful information you will find in the introductory issues of these newsletters:

Living with Diabetes

• Diabetes overview. A brief explanation of the types of diabetes, and how sound management can help you lead a close-to-normal life.
• The ups and downs of blood sugar. How diet, exercise, stress and alcohol impact your blood sugar levels.
• Getting a good blood sample.  How to draw the right amount of blood while keeping fingertip soreness to a minimum.
• Smoking and diabetes. Smoking poses special dangers for people with diabetes. Learn what these are and the benefits of quitting.

  More than 2 million Canadians have diabetes. By the end of this decade, that number is expected to jump to 3 million.

• Choosing non-prescription drugs. People with diabetes have to be especially careful when choosing over-the-counter medications because some products contain substances that can impact blood glucose control. Learn how to identify these medications.
• Avoiding diabetic retinopathy. Close to one-third of all people with diabetes develop diabetic retinopathy, a condition that leads to loss of vision. Learn how this condition develops and progresses and how best to prevent it.

Heart-Healthy Living

• Cholesterol overview. Understand the different types of cholesterol and how they impact your risk for heart disease.
• Guidelines for cholesterol testing. How often should your cholesterol be tested? The Heart and Stroke Foundation of Canada has set out these helpful guidelines.

  22% of all deaths among Canadian men and 19% of all deaths among Canadian women are due to heart disease. Do you know how to cut your risk?

• Understanding dietary fats. Not all fat is bad for you. In fact, some kinds of dietary fat are actually good for your heart. Learn to differentiate good fats from bad.
• What you should know about your cholesterol medications. No matter what cholesterol-lowering medication your doctor prescribes, there are many things you should be aware of. Learn the important pointers that will help your medication to work effectively.
• The impact of triglycerides. Triglycerides are fats that are present in foods but may also be manufactured in the body. Like cholesterol, excess levels of triglycerides can collect in the blood and create an increased risk for heart disease. Learn how to control triglyceride levels to improve the health of your heart.

At London Drugs we are always looking for ways to help you manage your health. Your pharmacist will be happy to tell you more about our services.